Strand Theatre

240 E. Main Street,
Chattanooga, TN 37408

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 6, 2024 at 11:14 am

Here is an item about the Strand from Moving Picture World of November 20, 1915:

“The Strand, Chattanooga’s new 5-cent motion picture theater, was thrown open to the public on Friday, Nov. 5, with the William Fox production, ‘A Celebrated Scandal,’ for the opening exhibit. Arrangements have been made to show Fox, Kleine, Edison and Pathe Gold Rooster films at the new theater.

“A. J. Alper and A. Solomon, two well known young South Side business men, have charge of the theater, which they built under a partnership agreement. Two Powers 6A machines have been installed in a fireproof operators' room, and a $3,500 photo-play orchestra has been installed. The concern gave considerable attention to building a perfect ventilating system, and the house is heated by means of a gas furnace.

“The bills will be changed daily. The South Side of Chattanooga has been in need of just such a theater for some time, and the new house should prove a successful venture. On the opening day at the theater free toy balloons were given to every woman and child who attended, J. P. Wilhoite, a local contractor, built the theater. The building is handsomely decorated inside and out and has a large seating capacity.”

The last year in which the Strand was listed in the FDY was 1926.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 9, 2015 at 3:34 pm

As there is no place called South Chattanooga today, but this location is south of Chattanooga’s downtown, this item from the December 8, 1915, issue of The Moving Picture Worldis probably about this Strand Theatre:

“SOUTH CHATTANOOGA, TENN. — The Strand is the name of a new moving picture theater opened here by A. Solomon and A. J. Alper.”
The fire station that occupies the block now looks like it might have been built as long ago as the 1930s, so my guess would be that the Strand has been gone for a very long time.